Trade Capital Investments: What You Need to Know

Updated on 24 January 2025

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Finding a funding partner who understands your needs is vital for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A good funding partner will ensure you get the right funding for your business and help your business grow.

A funding partner is a company or person that commits funds through an agreement. The funding partner is responsible for providing funds in the agreement.
Because funding partners have a lot of responsibility, especially towards the growth of SMEs, they need to be in touch with the SME industry and its needs.

One company that is committed to funding SMEs is Trade Capital Investments (TCI). In this article, we will explore Trade Capital Investments and how they provide funding to small businesses.

What is Trade Capital Investments?

Trade Capital Investments is a funding solutions company focused on helping SMEs get the right funding solutions for them. The overall focus of the company is to provide funding solutions to black-owned SMEs and small businesses owned and run by women and the youth.

The Trade Capital Investments team is made up of experts with strong relationship management and experience in the financial services industry. On its website, the company says it is driven to offer SME funding solutions through “fair business practices, sound governance, and transparency.”

Trade Capital Investments Funding Solutions

Trade Capital Investments has a range of funding and advisory solutions for SMEs. Under advisory solutions, the company offers the following:

Sourcing and Vetting

The team will source, and vet suppliers and products as specified in contracts or purchase orders.

Logistics

The Trade Capital Investments team will provide advisory solutions on transportation and insurance for goods in transit and storage.

Delivery Risk Management

The company provides advisory solutions on international trade in cases where goods need to be imported.

When it comes to funding, the company offers the following solutions:

Purchase order/contract Funding

The company provides funding for SMEs that have valid contracts or purchase orders with established companies in the public and private sectors. SMEs with purchase orders to provide goods or services within 30-60 days.

SME Programmes with Private and Public Companies

Trade Capital Investments partners with large companies to create funding programmes for SMEs. This solution allows SMEs to access funding solutions through the programmes. These programmes are governed by the terms of the agreement between TCI and the SME.

Working Capital

TCI has funding solutions for SMEs in need of funding to finish a project. When applying for this solution ensure you have a valid contract with short-term invoice cycles. The TCI partners with the SME and provides funding for each phase of the project until completion.

The TCI’s working capital solution caters for infrastructure projects in these categories:

  • Construction of social housing (RDP and low-cost housing
  • Construction of schools
  • Selected bulk infrastructure projects

Enterprise Development Programme

The TCI has an enterprise development programme which helps SMEs become sustainable so they can create jobs and significantly contribute to the local economy.

The programme includes:

  • Sourcing SMEs
  • Monitoring SMEs
  • Development of SMEs- Integration for SMEs

How to Apply for Funding from Trade Capital Investments

If you are looking to apply for funding from TCI, you can apply online. The application process is as follows:

Stage 1: Complete the online application by submitting all required documents.

You will enter your details on the TCI website. You will need to provide details on the following:

  • Funding amount
  • E-mail address
  • First and last name
  • Contact details
  • Company name
  • Business registration number

Once you have entered these details and the necessary supporting documents, there will be more information that is needed. If everything is in order, you will press submit and your funding application will go in for possible approval.

Stage 2: Your application will be assessed and if everything is in order, the TCI will partner with you and fund 100% of the transaction.

Step 3: Once all the relevant documents are confirmed as well as any legal requirements, the TCI will engage with your supplier and facilitate the delivery of the goods.

The TCI provides funding to the following eligible candidates:

  • All SMEs including start-ups are registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
  • Must have a valid contract or purchase order to supply and deliver goods to trusted entities.
  • All primary activities of the business must be operated within South Africa.

Once you have submitted everything and the TCI has validated the growth and stability of your business, you will receive your funds and be able to fulfil your contract.

For more information on different funding sources, visit SME South Africa. To get your tickets for our exciting SME South Africa Funding Summit, visit the SME Events Page for more information.

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